Malacanang abusing authority by ordering congressional hearings on the tapes to stop; lawmakers should resist attempts of the executive to threatenor bribe them into opposing hearings

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that the moves of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to block the congressional hearings on the controversial taped conversations of the president exposing the massive electoral fraud she perpetrated in May 2004 will not pass the notice of the Filipino people already fed up and disgusted with the administration.

He said that the reasoning of Malacanang that a more systematic system was necessary to conduct the hearings was transparently self-serving. He also said that Malacanang has no right to order the deliberations to stop.

“The executive is flagrantly abusing its authority by making such a demand on Congress. The legislative branch is an independent and separate institution, and if the executive insists on imposing its will this way, then what we have is a virtual dictatorship. Pres. Arroyo might as well abolish Congress and proclaim martial law.”

“Who has been sabotaging the hearings and causing all the disorder and chaos but the allies of President Arroyo in the House? It’s the pro-administration solons who have been doing their best to ensure that the deliberations run around in circles and never head anywhere. Remove the rabid pro-Gloria allies from the hearings and let the solons who want to expose the truth and without doubt the hearings will prosper,” he said. He added that it was quite unfortunate that more solon appear to be loyal to the president than to the Filipino people and the country. “My honorable colleague should be reminded that they pledged their allegiance and service not to president Arroyo but to the Filipino people.”

The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker said that reports that Malacanang was going to utilize the presidential social fund and other funds in the effort to convince solons to vote for the scrapping of the congressional hearings was no surprising.

“President Arroyo has already been accused of tapping other social welfare and benefit funds to fuel her electoral campaign in 2004. She and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Winston Garcia are strongly accused of siphoning millions of GSIS funds for the president’s electoral bid last year. To put it bluntly, Malacanang is not above using more of taxpayers’ money and other government funds to bribe lawmakers into being silent over the issue of the tapes. Desperate times call for desperate measures is now the official motto of Malacanang,” he said.

Beltran said that lawmakers should not be afraid to come forward and speak their mind regarding the tape controversy. “For the sake of the nation and the Filipino people, lawmakers should support the congressional hearings and demand to have the tapes heard in Congress,” he said. “Lawmakers should stand up against all attempts of Malacanang to cover up its crimes and to protect an illegitimate presidency. The truth must be heard, and literally it’s on tape.”#